Tool trimming device



May 19, 1953 P. M. HAL-L TOOL TRIMMING DEVICE Filed Jan. 14, 1948 INVEN TOR.

1 /655 70 Mf/gLL A TTOR/VE) Patented May 19, 1953 UNITED STATE TOOL'TRIMMING DEVICE i Preston M. Hall, Warren, Ohio Application January 14, 1348, Serial No. 2,309

6 Claims. (Cl. 90-12) My invention relates to tool trimming devices, particularly to devices for trimming the electrodes of an electric resistance welding machine, and the principal object of my invention is to provide new and improved devices of this character.

Tool life and care is of great importance to modern production, and designers customarily plan machine production in accordance with tools of predetermined characteristics. Perhaps the electric resistance welding industry provides the best example of the high degree of care required of tools to meet a required production quota. For example, spot welding electrodes are so designed as to operate most efliciently under a given set of conditions, and in such case, the contour of the electrode is of great importance. Hence, it will be apparent that in order to operate at designed efilciency, care must be exercised that the contour of the electrodes be maintained within relatively close limits.

The electrodes used in spot welding machines are usually formed from copper or copper alloy, and because of the pressure used in welding, and the heat resulting from welding, the extremity of the-electrode has a tendency to mushroom, that is, to widen at its tip.

' Since such factors as welding current, pressure, and current duration are largely correlated with current density at the weld region, it will be clear that these characteristics, which are ordinarily fixed for a particular welding operation, would be improper if the current density at the weld were changed.

Current density at the weld is determined by the area of electrode surface in contact with the surface of the metals to be welded. Thus, as the electrode mushrooms, current density will be decreased, resulting in wider spread heat distribution and improper welds.

The ordinary methods available to maintain tip size were not sufiiciently flexible or expeditious to appeal to the industry, with a result that either manufacturing costs were increased, or weldments were impaired.

, An early method of trimming electrodes was to dress such tips with a file. This of course was inaccurate, and was not used in quality shops. Another method was to remove the electrodes, and dress them in a lathe. This, although being more accurate, proved too costly. As a result, certain dressing tools were devised for the purpose of trimming the electrodes in situ, but none has proved flexible enough-to meet industrial requirements.

For, example, certain spotwelding machines l are designed to run through a complete welding cycle, so that when the machine is stopped, the electrodes are separated a substantial distance, making it difiicult to trim both electrodes simultaneously with a single trimming device. In other machines, theelectrode separation is so slight that it was impossible to insert a trimming device therebetween to trim both electrodes simultaneously. r l

Other disadvantages of the prior art resulted from the fact that the available trimming devices would trim only one type of electrode, requiring a different device "for each type of electrode. My invention provides a trimming device which is flexible to meet the foregoing and other requirements of the industry, is easy and cal to use, andproducesaccurate results.

In the drawing accompanying this specification and forming apart of this applicatiomthere is shown, for purposes of illustration, embodiments whichmy invention may assume, and in this drawing? if r i Figure 1 is side elevational view of a device embodying myinvention, the tools to be trimmed, such as spot welding electrodes, being fragmentarily shown, 3

Figure 2 isa plan View of the device,

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of gne form of trimming means which may be use r Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view corresponding generally to the line 4-4 of Figure 3, a-fragmentarily shown welding electrode being 1illustrated in position prior to trimming operaion,

Figure '5 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of another form of trimming means which may be used, and l Figure'fi is a fragmentary sectional view cor responding generally to theline 6-5 of Figure 5; Generally, my invention comprises body means having a recess for receiving that portion of the tool which is to be trimmed, the recess beingcontoured to correspond to the desired contour of the tool portion, and the definingwall of the recess being formed with meansfor removing material from the tool portion. I

The body means referred to is preferably in the form of a tapered plug which securely fits within a correspondingly tapered recess in a respective carrier portion, but which may readily be removed therefrom; Means are provided for urging the body means to pressure contact with a respective tool portion.- V Referring particularly to Figures 1" through 4 of the drawing; the embodiment-therein-shown economi- 3 to disclose the invention comprises a pair of bar members I and I I in juxtaposed relation. The member ll carries a laterally extending pivot post l2, positioned intermediate its ends, and a laterally extending screw-threaded post [3 ad- J'acent to one of its ends.

The bar member ID has an aperture l4 freely passing the screw-threaded post l3, and an aperture l5 for passing the pivot post l2. Referrin particularly *to Figure" 1, it will -be'-noted theit the aperture is so "'formed that "its rilefiniri surface intermediate its ends closely fits the that the bar members are brought together sufficiently to permit insertion of the plugs 22 between the electrodes 21, 28, and this rod is then reversely turned to cause the electrode portions post l2, whereas the aperture I5 is widened at each of its ends, so as to facilitatesmeltingaortav the bar member I0 laterally with respect to the bar member ll. I

A wheel I6 is threaded on thepost-=-l3,,=andjhasa boss I! adapted to have reduced area contact with the adjoining surface of the bar membertapered-recess or aperture 2 iz, the"members' bein so disposed that the recesses 24' taper in Op posite-directions Thus; in the disposition ='0.f the parts V as shOWn-in-Figure l, "ea-ch :oi the recesses 21 tapers inwardly tea smaller size.

The body means before reterred :to cemprises a plug 22 which=is-tapered cornespcn,dinglyi-to the taper of-a respective recess 2i so that-a plug 22' may be--inserted within-its respective recess and fir mly .securedrtherein,yet-may readily be removed therefrom, as by application "of slight pressure or by tapping with a suitabletoolr Any suitable amount of :taper may be used forthe purpose;- example being the taper "commonly used on drill and cutting "$001 *shaniss.

The plug 22 isprovided with a recess 23-for receiving that: portion ofthe "tool to be trimmed. In l the embodiment shown in Figures 1 thrmigh 4; the recess 23 tapers inwardly to -a .smaller'si-ze and is contoured to correspond to the desired contour'of the tool portion,

The defining wall of the 'retess 23:is pre vided with "means-5:601 :removingt material :irom the tool portion, @and as here -shown; wtihiS d8- fining wall is formed with a series of cutting means 24 extending inwardly J-from :sthe larger mouth of-lthe recess. Each cutting means comprises a series of cutting edgeSW-ZB dispoSed-at an angle to the-recess-axis; and: provided with suitable rake to ensure clearance for the ma terial removed from: the tool-portion; Ae -best seen in Figures 3 4; a transversely positioned cutting edge I 26, also provided with rake'ris idis posedinwardly of the recess -23, preterablyrat its smallest area;

In cases where the spaced-tool portions; such as the electrodes--21 and- 28 are :identi'ca-Lmthc plugs 22 in each of the-bar members "-10 and I I may be identical; 1 l However, it will he -appreciated that if the electrodes are'di-ssimilar, corresponm ingly formed plugs 22 will-"be 1156612 Figure 4 shows the-electrode 2? formed' 'witha: mushroamed end resultinglfrom usepthe dotted-lines 29 indicating the contounof the-"electmde' fl prior-tense; I

Iziperation. the "screw rod" 18 i is rotated so to enter and seat within respective recesses 23. The wheel 16 may then be turned to bear against the bar member I0 so as to urge the plugs 22 to bear against the electrodes 21, 28 with desired pressure. The members II], II are then f-rotated "in a plane generally transverse to the axis' ofthe electrodes, whereby'the' cutting edges 25 remove the mushroomed material, and return the electrodes to original contour. The rod 1-8 and -wheel 16, or either one, may be turned during the trimming operation, to insure good dressing contact between the plugs 22 and respective electrodes. After the trimming operation, it is merely necessary to back ofi the rod I8, to provide for clearance to remove the trimming device. In addition-to trimming,- it -w-i-1l-be-appreciated that my trimming rdegviee may also be used to remove material whichis picked up by the electrode irom .thework-being welded, athus insuring a true clean contact betweenthe worleand the electrodes.

hthe contounofthe electrode is changed; it ismerely necessary to remove the plug .221, and insert a plug having a recess of propercontour. Thus-my i-nventionis flexible enough to "accommodate electrodes -rang-ing;-z:nom cylindrical to n n lar or curved-contour. Int-eases where there :is minimum clearance between electrodes, the screw-rod 1-8 may .be-baekedcff so that the bar-members It and H engage: to permit insertion' of the plugs :22 between electrodes.

The embodiment-shown -Figures 5 and .6 is similar to that herein-before described; and similar reference members for like parts :Will he used. fin this instance, the cutter edge 26- is omitted, the recess 23 tapering inwardly to abottomiwal-l 30. The wa-llfi-ll istormed-avith-opening means for cutting. effects,-her,e shown series of apertures- 3| and a series of smaller apertures 32:. The upper edges ottheesurtaeeswdenning these'recesses, reterr-ing to--the disposition of parts in Figure 6, provide cutting iedgesfondressing the extremity :Of the tool.

From theior-egoing, it will be apparent to those skilled inthe art that I have accomplishedaat least the principal obj ect' of my invention, and it also will be apparent to thoses-killed inithe art that the --embodimentsherein described may be variously changed and .modiiied withont departing i from the spirit of' =the invention,- and that the invention :is capable-chimes and has advantages not herein specific-ally. described; hence itwill be app-rec-iatedtha-t the herein-disclosed embodiment is iilus-trative only,"andathat my invention is not limited-@hereto:

,I claim? 1, Adevice for-trimming spaced tool's, su-o'has the electrodes 10i an electric resi-etance welder, comprising: a pair ofba'r members juxtapes i tion, said members atone end hav ig -ci-rbular recesses tapering inwardly toward each other from their outwardly directed stir-faces -a -pair" of plug ameans complementar ily tapered to securely fit within respective recesses; yet-beingreadil-y removable therefrom, ea-ch of saidplug' means having a recess extending inwardlyfromitsoutwardly "directed surface,- and being adapted -'*-to receive that portion-Diane respect e tool which is to :betrimmedp each' o t said plug means re cesses being contoured to correspondto the'desired contour ef 'its :respective' tool portion; the

defining wall surface of each plug means recess being formed with cutter edges for removing material from the tool portion; one of said bar members being pivotally carried by a pivot post carried by the other of said members; and screw means, on opposite sides of the pivot, for urging said plug means into pressure contact with respective tool portions.

2. A tool trimmer, comprising: body means providing a cone-like recess, the tapered wall of said recess being formed to provide a plurality of cutting edges arranged in groups, each group being disposed in skewed relation with the axis of said recess and with respect to an adjoining group; and one or more cutting edges disposed inwardly of said recess and extending transversely thereacross.

3. A tool trimmer, comprising: body means providing a cone-like recess, the tapered wall of said recess being formed to provide a plurality of Cutting edges arranged in groups, each group being disposed in skewed relation with the axis of said recess and with respect to an adjoining group; and means disposed inwardly of said recess and extending transversely thereacross and providing one or more cutting edges, said means being apertured to allow passage of chips there through.

4. A device for trimming spaced tools, such as electrodes of a spot welder, comprising a pair of juxtaposed elongated members each having an outwardly tapering recess in its outwardly directed surface, tapered plug means securely fitting within respective recesses, each of said plug means having tool trimming means, and manually operable means for spreading apart said members and thus urging said plug means into tool trimming engagement with respective tools, said manually operable means comprising adjustment means for altering angular disposition of said plug means relative to respective tools, and said members providinga hand grip for manually rotating said device about said tools.

5. A device for trimming spaced tools, such as the electrodes of a spot welder, comprising a pair of juxtaposed elongated members, each having an outwardly tapering recess in its outer surface, tapered plug means securely fitting within respective recesses and each having a recess adapted to receive that portion of the tool to be trimmed, the recess of each plug means being contoured to correspond to the desired contour of the respective tool portion and the defining wall surface of each plug means recess including cutting edges for removing material from the respective tool portions, manually operable means for spreading apart said members so that said plug means recesses receive respective tools and said cutting edges are pressed thereagainst, said manually operable means comprising adjustment means for altering angular dispostion of said plug means relative to respective tools, and said members providing a hand grip for manually relating said device about said tools.

6. A tool trimmer comprising body means having an opening extending therethrough and tapering from a larger diameter at one side to a smaller diameter at the opposite side, the tapered wall defining said opening being formed to provide cutting edges arranged in groups, each group being disposed in skewed relation with the axis of said opening and with respect to an adjoining group, and cutting edge means extending across the smaller diameter of said opening and providing for passage of chips therethrough.

PRESTON M. HALL.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,298,934 Hale Apr. 1, 1919 1,558,825 Beard Oct. 27, 1925 1,590,201 McGuckin June 29, 1926 2,284A83 Whitesell May 26, 1942 2,286,931 Radeke June 16, 1942 2,292,581 Richardson 1 Aug. 11, 1942 2,300,173 Platz Oct. 27, 1942 2,418,767 Hall Apr. 8, 1947 2,557,751 Melzer June 19, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 127,574: Germany Jan. 29, 1902 154,242 Germany Sept. 10, 1904 244,382 Great Britain Dec, 17, 1925 

